e into a gallop. Sam didn't mind that; he jest pushed
his hat down on his head and took a firm seat, and seemed to enjoy it
as much as anybody. But after he'd galloped around the ring two or
three times, he tried to rein the horse in and get him down to a nice
steady trot like the Simpson man was doin'. But, no, sir. That horse
hadn't any idea of stoppin'. The harder the band played the faster he
galloped; and Uncle Jim Matthews says, 'I reckon Sam's horse thinks
it's another t'u'nament.' And Abram says, 'Goes like he'd been paid to
gallop jest that way; don't he, Uncle Jim?'

"But horses has a heap o' sense, child; and it looked to me like the
horse knew he had Sam Amos, one o' the best riders in the county, on
his back and he was jest playin' a little joke on him.

"Well, of course when the judges seen that Sam'd lost control of his
horse, they called the Simpson man up and tied the blue ribbon on him.
And he took off his hat and waved it around, and then he trotted
around the ring, and the Simpson folks hollered and threw up their
hats. And all that time Sam's horse was tearin' around the ring jest
as hard as he could go. Sam's hat was off, and I ricollect jest how
his hair looked, blowin' back in the wind--Milly hadn't trimmed it for
some time--and him gittin' madder and madder every minute. Of course
us Goshen folks was mad, too, because Sam didn't git the blue ribbon;
but we had to laugh, and the town folks and the Simpson folks they
looked like they'd split their sides. Old Man Bob Crawford jest laid
back on the benches and hollered and laughed till he got right purple
in the face. And says he, 'This beats the Kittle Creek babtizin' all
to pieces.'

"Well, nobody knows how long that horse would 'a' kept on gallopin',
for Sam couldn't stop him; but finally two o' the judges they stepped
out and headed him off and took hold o' the bridle and led him out o'
the ring. And Uncle Jim Matthews he jumps up, and says he, 'Let me out
o' here. I want to see Sam when he gits off o' that horse.' Milly was
settin' on the top seat considerably higher'n I was. And says she, 'I
wouldn't care if I didn't see Sam for a week to come. Sam don't git
mad often,' says she, 'but when he does, folks'd better keep out o'
his way.'

"Well, Uncle Jim started off, and the rest of us set still and waited;
and pretty soon here come Sam lookin' mad enough to fight all
creation, sure enough. Everybody was still laughin', but nobody said
anyt